Steven M. Chavez is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the Police Academy at Western New Mexico University. Born and raised right here in Silver City. He attended this very program, graduating from the WNMU Police Academy in 1984 and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Western in 1991. In 2003 he obtained a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Troy State University’s online program. He also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Western New Mexico University, obtained in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Economics from New Mexico State University obtained in 2008.

After graduating from Western’s Police Academy, he obtained employment as a Deputy Sheriff, with the Grant County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Department. During his 9 year tenure, he held the positions of patrol officer, detective, Captain of Field Operations, and Under-sheriff. He also spent 5 years with the Grand Junction Colorado Police Department holding positions of patrol officer, crime scene technician, and hostage negotiator.

Having obtained a degree online, he is instinctively aware of the special needs of online students.